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April/May 2020

 

National Agility Link

Association

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National Agility Link Association (formed 1989)

EDITOR/SECRETARY: Karen de Wit 74A  Kirton  Drive,  Riverstone  Terraces, UPPER HUTT 5018  Ph: 04/528 6796. Mob:021 1240174    E: kpdewit@xtra.co.nz  TREASURER: Malcolm Ward 71 Arawa Street, R D 4,  WHAKATANE 3194 Phone: 07 322 2227, Cell: 027 486 9132  E:malcolm.r.ward@outlook.com   ONLINE RESULTS:  www.nala.org.nz   For information contact  MIKE BUTLER Ph: 04/383 8143.  E: mbutler@ihug.co.nz    Results (Games): Karen de Wit Ph: 04/528 6796. Mob:021 1240174 E: kpdewit@xtra.co.nz Contact Karen for a std results sheet  RESULTS (VETERANS) Flygility: Sandra Mohekey E: runaone@cheerful.com Agility: Liz Barlow E: yorkie_gal@hotmail.com   JUNIOR NALA COMPETITION Bonnie Beechey E: bonnie@mobius.nz   LIBRARY ENQUIRIES: E: kpdewit@xtra.co.nz   MAGAZINES: Carole Logan E:distribution@nala.org.nz 

   All  copy  ‐  correspondence,  articles,  etc should be sent to the Editor. All copy must have  the  name  and  address  of  the contributor. Limit number of words to 500 or one A4 page. Copy may be abridged or edited.   COURSE PLANS  Supply  as  Course  designer  or  in  scale  in black pen on an A4 sheet Portrait size.   AGILITY  LINK  does  not  accept responsibility  for  the  views  expressed  by contributors  and  retains  the  right  not  to publish  submissions  for    reasons  of  space or suitability.  SUBSCRIPTIONS  All  subs  are  payable  to  the  Treasurer. Cheques  should  be  made  payable  to NALA.  Payment must  be  received  by  the 27

th of the month to be current.   WEBSITE:  www.agilitylink.webs.com  FACEBOOK  https://www.facebook.com/groups/Agilitylink/  RESULTS: nala.org.nz  ADVERTISING $10 ‐ 1/4 page  ~ $15 ‐ 1/2 page ~$20 ‐ full page 

   

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Comment this month

By Karen de Wit

  

COVID‐19 

Well it seems amazing that something so tiny could have such a 

profound effect on the whole world, but there it is!!  

So many things that we took for granted have disappeared, many people are 

working from home (I wonder how many will actually go back!) and many 

people are baking cakes, biscuits, bread and puddings like they never have 

before. 

From an Agility Link perspective we are pleased to announce the prizegetters 

for the 2019/2020 competition whilst taking Marchg results out as that is 

when Covid‐19 started to take hold of our sport, and going to club and doing 

Agility, RallyO, flygility etc came to an abrupt halt. 

It appears that it wont be till Level 2 that we will be able to do activities at 

club again, so in the meantime – Keep safe, enjoy the good moments, train 

your dog (if you want to) and we look forward to seeing you on the other 

side. 

NALA Link 

resumes in 

May/June. 

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THE REAL RULES OF AGILITY

By Sandra Mohekey

Hi everyone, Isn’t it great to be able to look forward to doing agility with our friends and fellow competitors again? Like many people I did not get as much training done in lockdown as I thought I would. But at least working from home meant I could take advantage of the daylight. A big thank you to all those who through FB shared training tips, ran virtual competitions and gave us agility exercises. The following came through FB and was adapted by one Lucien Lupusamir Cruse from a dressage group post. I have adapted it a little further for NZ agility. Enjoy!

1. If you really want to get better at agility take it up at an earlier age - and grow an extra 6 cms of leg to run faster.

2. Remember, an agility competition is a test of your skill against another competitor's luck.

3. Agility is about working harmoniously around a course with your dog - a dog who’s perfect idea of harmony is chewing up a sock they buried in the back garden.

4. If you want to end a drought or a dry spell, wear a new customised polo shirt or running shoes outside. (Hawkes Bay and Auckland people take note, the solution lies in your shopping!)

5. Aggressive or untrainable dogs have perfect health, long lives and beautiful jumping action.

6. Talented, trainable dogs can’t seem to learn what a contact is in the ring, or consistently come out at weave no. 10

7. You will run the best clear of your lives, only to be disqualified because your dog is wearing a dangly tag on its collar.

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8. Never keep more than 300 separate thoughts in your head before a run.

9. Never keep less than another 300 separate thoughts in your head during a run.

10. Dogs do not improve their runs because you have Doggo Parcours running shoes or sponsored Lycra leggings or an international team tee-shirt. Sadly.

11. If you choose a funky costume for your pairs run, everyone else will be dressed normally and you will be called crazy... if you wear normal clothes, everyone else will be doing fancy dress and you will be called boring.

12. The less skilled the handler, the more likely they are to share their critique of your run with you. (This is my personal favourite.)

13. If you are considering the services of a dog clairvoyant to help you with training then you have reached the point of total desperation - try the new German moves! (Or something else…. I can’t see any future with a clairvoyant.)

14. Your dog doesn’t care about what Karen (or Kevin, or Kelly or …insert name here….) said last week- the dog will still run exactly the same as the week before unless YOU do something different.

15. No matter how badly you run a course, it is always possible to run a worse one.

16. If it ain't broke, try changing your handling and it will be.

17. Judges only suffer from temporary blindness (or kindness) when they are judging someone else's run, not when judging yours.

18. If you fall over in the ring, there will be someone videoing your run and they will share the video widely.

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19. If you are feeling confident before a show then three of the top national competitors will turn up to give their young dogs some "experience."

20. Your dog will perform its best ‘round the back’ ever, when you asked for a straight ‘go on’.

22. Remember runs of bad competitions come in groups of three; that means that the fourth competition is actually the beginning of the next group of three bad ones.

23. No one cheats at agility because they all fear the wrath of the agility Facebook groups.

24. It is surprisingly easy to end a competition with perfect weaves and contacts after having been d’ed or eliminated four times on jumps.

25. The result of an expensive lesson from a top pro is that you will stop believing in that tiny piece of innate ability that was holding your handling together.

26. Remember when buying an agility dog advertised as "needs experienced competitive handler" this really means "needs the skills of Chelsea (or …insert name here….) just to stay in the ring”.

27. If you think your run was better than someone else's, it probably wasn't.

28. If you pay $600 for an agility line puppy, you will consistently be beaten in starters by a 6 year old rescue mutt.

29. Clinics given by someone with an interesting accent are not necessarily superior to those given by the homegirl.

30. If you go to the expense of raising an expensive agility line dog, he will have a talent for learning obedience and have no jump worth talking about.

31. If you get a puppy from an agility litter the owners of the others will always unfavourably compare yours to theirs.

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32. The louder the ringside critic, the worse their dog did. Or the more badly behaved their dog is.

33. The more opinionated and loud the competitor is, the less likely

they are to do much work at shows. This would definitely include people named – nah, not going there. Make up your own list. You probably already have one; it just isn’t written down. Make sure you tell the non-opinionated hard workers how much you appreciate them!

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Juniors and Veterans - June

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The first course post-covid will be what was the April course.

For information on Junior Link contact Bonnie E: bonnie@mobius.nz 

Veterans contact Liz Barlow E: yorkie_gal@hotmail.com

 It’s time to renew your subscription. You can this online 

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June 2020 Path length = 105

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The first course post-covid will be what was to be the April course. 

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June Game: Jumpers Pairs

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The first course post-covid will be this course which was to be the April one.   

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June RALLYO Course. Path line = 88m 1. Serpentine weave once 2. right turn 3. Call front finish left forward 4. U turn left 5. Call front finish right forward 6. Serpentine weave once 7. Left about 8. Call front finish right halt 9. 270 left turn 10. 360 right 11. Call front return to heel 12. Halt sit walk around 13. side step right 14. 270 left turn

New Zealand Association of Rally-O

Please ensure the course on the ground is the same as the plan, using a 

metre wheel to check distances. The overall distance should also be 

checked.  

The sign should be placed where the number on the plan indicates and any 

separate numbers placed to the side on the right, with cones usually placed 

just behind (in the case of weaves etc). 

 The sign must be performed in a one metre square to the front of the sign 

for turns in front and slightly to the left for straight line walking.  

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June RallyO course

We have been publishing small space Covid-19 courses on Facebook, feel free to have a go at them

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June Flygility courses

It’s time to renew your subscription. 

You can this online 

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ANNUAL Results - RALLYO. It was decided that the Best 7/10 results (as March has been excluded) will count. Top 10 receive ribbons

Pl Total

1 162 253 304 305 386 397 798 839 88

10 9511 9812 10113 10814 11415 12616 13417 13418 14619 15120 173

RallyO Link 2019-20 Annual ResultsIndividual Standard Course Best 7 of 10 (Top 20)

Canterbury COC Helen Scott Harry

DAWG Marian Holman ChaiUpper Hutt Peter de Wit Quick

Wanganui DTC Barbara James GemmaHawkes Bay Lorraine Lennox Phoenix

Canterbury COC Kathryn Sutton DaisyHawkes Bay Lorraine Lennox Jantsee

Upper Hutt Karen de Wit DeeHawkes Bay Chrissy Harris Betty

Hawkes Bay Kristina Beresford TempoWanganui DTC Rhonda Campbell Rebo

Wanganui DTC Barbara James FinnWanganui DTC Barbara James Hakeem

Wanganui DTC Christine Warren CharlieWairarapa Nicky Detheridge- Davies Rufus

Upper Hutt Peter de Wit SequelWanganui DTC Rhonda Campbell Asti

Norwest Rosalind Walkington FletcherSunshine Whk Helen Barnes Cookie

Club Handler Dog

Wanganui DTC Christine Warren Poppy

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Individual Challenge Course Best 2 of 3 (Top 10)

9= Upper Hutt Peter de Wit Sequel 16

8 Hawkes Bay Chrissy Harris Lace 149= Upper Hutt Jane Aukett Holly 16

6= Hawkes Bay Chrissy Harris Betty 136= Canterbury COC Kathryn Sutton Daisy 13

3= Wairarapa Nicky DD Rufus 95 Wairarapa Elaine Herve Tio 11

2 Wairarapa Elaine Herve Anzac 63= Wanganui DTC Barbara James Finn 9

Place Club Handler Dog Total

1 Norwest Rosalind Walkington Fletcher 4

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Club Standard Rally – Best 7/10

1 Wanganui 8 2 Upper Hutt 15 3 Hawkes Bay 16 4 Wairarapa 23 5 Canterbury COC 26 6 Sunshine Whk 41 7 Norwest 44 8 DAWG 50 9 Central ADTS 53

10 Central HB 61 11 DS Rotorua 62 12 Blenheim 345

Club Challenge Course – Best 2/3 1= Wairarapa 4 1= Wanganui 4 1= Hawkes Bay 4

4 Canterbury COC 4 5 Upper Hutt 6 6 DAWG 11 7 Norwest 13 8 Sunshine Whk 105

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1 Finn Karen de wit UHDTC 15

2 Rider Margaret Lilley UHDTC 24

3 Lace Chrissy Harris HBDTC 36

Medium/500 dogs

1 Ali Peter de wit UHDTC 9

2 Thane Jorja Mulholland UHDTC 26

3 Maz Jorja Mulholland UHDTC 27

4 Edge Sue Whitwell EBOP 27

5 Sequel Peter de wit UHDTC 35

MAXI/600 dogs

1 Milly Alison Derbyshire EBOP 13

2 Shuffle Robyn Fargher HBDTC 31

3 Smudge Erin Mulholland UHDTC 34

4 Wyn Robyn Fargher HBDTC 40

Small dogs/240/300/380

ANNUAL Results – GAMES

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Agility Individual - Annual Results, Maxi

1 AgGrCh.JGrCh Ali ADXG JAB

SNX GDX

Border Collie/NZ

Heading Dog Peter de Wit UHDTC 23

2 PhanTim Border Collie Ana Workman Wairarapa DTC 25

3 Finn ADX JDX Border Collie Sandra Goodwin Blenheim CTC 43

4 Lucy Belgian Shepherd Trish Bush EBOP 65

5 Zsizsi JD Hungarian Vizsla Lizzi Gillard Nelson

DTC 71

6 Limit Border Collie Lara Tompsett Cambridge DOC 77

7 Rocky ADXG JAX FD Border Collie Paul Needham Tokoroa

DTC 80

8 Edge Australian Working Kelpie

Sue Whitwell EBOP 81

9 Fleet NZ Heading Dog

Christine Gillespie

Whangarei DTA 91

10 Jelo ADXG JDS

Belgian Shepherd

(Groenendael)Una Forrester EBOP

Obedience 99

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Agility Individual - Annual Results, Medium

1 Vogue ADXG JDX Border Collie Paul Needham

Tokoroa DTC 27

2 AgCh Loose ADX SNB

Australian Kelpie Kim Loye CHB DTC 32

3 Ruby Border Collie/Spaniel Denise Ockey Hawkes

Bay DTC 38

4 Jay Border

Collie/Golden Retriever

Stacie Clark Wairarapa DTC 54

5 AgGrCh & J Ch Finn ADXG JDX

JAB GD

Border Collie/NZ

Heading Dog Karen de Wit Upper Hutt

DTC 65

6 Lia JDX ADX Border Collie Nartarsha Gorrie

Nelson DTC 70

7 Brandi ADXA Gold JAS Border Collie Nikki Steyn Nelson

DTC 73

8 AgCh & JGrCh Jazz ADXG JDX

JAB Border Collie Natasha

Neame Blenheim

CTC 75

9 Fox JDX Border Collie Diana Martin Nelson DTC 88

10 Peppy Terrier/Collie/Springer Gillie Smith Blenheim

CTC 96

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Agility Individual - Annual Results, Small

1 Milly ADX JD Cavalier KCS Alison Derbyshire EBOP 43

2 Smudge Springer Spaniel X Erin Mulholland Upper Hutt

DTC 44

3 Lucy Cocker Spaniel Denise Ockey Hawkes Bay DTC 50

4 AgCh Viper

ADXG JDX JAB SNX RA

Miniature Schnauzer Kathryn Snook Canterbury

CATS 61

5 Paddy Shetland

Sheepdog/Jack Russell

Justine Dale Mt

Maunganui DTC

86

6 Dazzle Cavalier KC Alison Derbyshire EBOP 91

7 Dante Miniature Poodle Karen Forrest Whanganui

DTC 94

7 Sky ADXG JD RA Cocker Spaniel Gillian

Cruickshank UHDTC 94

9 Bilbo ADXB JDX Papillon X Anne Cozens Whangarei

DTA 98

10 Dot AD Jack Russell Terrier Jill Payne CHB DTC 108

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Agility Team Results. Division 1

1 Upper Hutt 1 9

2 Central HB 17

3 Wairarapa 23

3 East BOP 23

3 Nelson 1 23

6 Blenheim 1 25

7 Huntly 27

8 Hawkes Bay 35

9 Kaipara 5042

Division 2

1 Tokoroa 8

2 Cambridge 11

3 Mt Maunganui 2 18

4 CCATS 26

5 Tauranga 2 28

Congratulations to all club members who helped out on NALA Link days and who contributed to their club results. Division 3

1 Whangarei 10

2 Tauranga 3 15

3 Blenheim 3 5022

4 DAWG 10014

5 Upper Hutt 3 10020

6 Whanganui 3 15011

7 Nelson 3 15014

   

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Flygility Standard  

Medium

1 FDGRCH Meggie

Heading dog Nichola Mackay Feilding DTC

2 FDGRCH Willow ADXAB JDX GDX

Border Collie Sandra Banks North Taranaki DTC

3 Kez Huntaway/ Border Collie

Ella Sands-Fore North Taranaki DTC

4 FD GrCh Grace ADXAG JDB GD

Border Collie Sandra Banks North Taranaki DTC

5 FDCH Dazzle CDX WDX JD RN

Shetland Sheepdog/NZ Heading

Laurel Austin North Taranaki DTC

Maxi

1 Strike NZ Heading Dog

Di Stephens Counties DTC

2 Daisy Belgian Shepd (Malinois)

Nicole Beaumont

Counties DTC

3 Arrow FDX Lurcher Sandra Mohekey

Feilding DTC

4 Tank Huntaway/Border Collie X

Cherie Picking DAWG

5 Cash JD NZ Heading Dog

Wayne Turner Upper Hutt DTC

Small

1 Pipa Fox Terrier X Christine Hutchings

Dog Sports Rotorua

2 Taku AD JD Shetland Sheepdog

Chris Ross CHB DTC

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Flygility Challenge  

Small

1 Taku AD JD Shetland Sheepdog

Chris Ross

CHB DTC

Medium 1 FDGRCH Willow

ADXAB JDX GDX Border Collie

Sandra Banks

North Taranaki DTC

2 FD GrCh Grace ADXAG JDB GD

Border Collie

Sandra Banks

North Taranaki DTC

3 FD CH Storm AD JD

Border Collie

Sandra Banks

North Taranaki DTC

Maxi 1 Kruze JDX Border

Collie Allan Rohde

Counties DTC

2 FDGRCH Echo Cross Breed

Nichola Mackay

Feilding DTC

3 Hunta Hunterway/Beardie

Joanne Steed

CHB DTC

 

   

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Flygility Teams – Challenge – Best 3 of 4 

1 North Taranaki DTC 42 Upper Hutt DTC 83 Feilding DTC 94 Dog Sports Rotorua 105 Counties DTC 250066 Hawkes Bay DTC 30002

 

Flygility Teams – Standard – Best 3 of 4. 

1 North Taranaki DTC 82 Feilding DTC 133 Counties DTC 204 Upper Hutt DTC 245 Dog Sports Rotorua 346 Hawkes Bay Central 357 Cambridge DOC 438 Blenheim CTC 100269 North Shore DTC 15026

10 DAWG 2001811 Hawera DTA 2500912 CHB Dog Training Club 30002

   

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Rally or Agility: Which One Is Best for My Dog?

The answer may be BOTH! https://usdaa.com/news/rally‐or‐agility‐which‐one‐is‐best‐for‐my‐dog.cfm 

Rally and dog agility may seem like very different forms of canine sport, but they are more similar than most people realize. Both are ideal for canine handlers to consider at different times in their dogs’ competitive career as well as for building complementary skills, according to Ann Allums, coordinator for USDAA® World Cynosport Rally Limited (WCRL).

Both rally and agility are team sports, of course. Rally focuses on developing teamwork, connection and flow through a course of heelwork that enhances skills such as precise turns, speed control and obstacle navigation while maintaining good attention and enthusiasm. Agility adds the additional challenges of speed and obstacle performance while following a course.

Benefits of Rally Rally is a great option for anyone just getting started with dog training, as well as for advanced competitors looking for activities to refine essential skills while training at home. With exercises that can be done easily in small spaces with little to no equipment, it is also great for dogs of all ages.

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“Rally Obedience was created as a way for all dogs to compete in the sport, since it wasn’t as strict as other obedience competitions,” Ann explained. In rally, you and your dog heel at a brisk, continuous pace through a timed course that includes signs indicating specific obedience exercises to be performed at each station. The course is different each time, and your score is based on how well the exercises are performed to the standard.

Skills to get started in rally include sit and down on cue, beginner stay in both a sit and down, beginner heel —and a desire to learn more and have fun! Remember that you can talk to your dog and give feedback, including food rewards after the correct behavior, even while competing. Feel free to teach these skills to your dog using positive reinforcement training techniques.

Beginners looking to develop a bond with their dogs through obedience training often start with rally, Ann added.

Benefits of Rally + Agility Rally also appeals to current agility competitors who want to improve their dog’s focus and build teamwork in a more casual activity. It's also an excellent option for agility dogs who are retiring but want to stay active.

Agility trainer Jodi Kellar-Jackson, of Saddlebrook, N.J., is a long-time competitor in both agility and rally, and a fully certified (all levels) rally judge for WCRL. She finds that some dogs benefit from doing rally before agility, while others do better if they start in agility.

“Many people start in rally and then transfer over to agility. In working with multiple breeds, I find that both sports support each other, and the progression is made most successful by being able to understand the dog’s needs and determine which sport is best to begin working in the ring environment,” she said.

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Jodi began competing in agility in 2009 and in rally in 2010 with her beagle, Jellybean, and Labrador retriever, Casey. Both dogs started in agility and then moved into rally.

“I found that this was best for these two dogs I had at the time,” she said. “I have raised and competed with seven of my dogs (plus a few foster dogs); some of them benefited from competing in rally first to gain connection, value communication from the handler or simply gain ring confidence, while others benefited from competing in agility first. It is interesting that for some dogs the agility equipment was more helpful than rally to build a working relationship, while other dogs needed to get into the ring without that equipment to create a working team. I really needed to listen to each of my dogs and examine our training along the way to make the best choices for us.”

Jodi is owner and instructor at Kellars Canine Academy and currently competes in rally and agility with her two beagles and two border collies. (For more information on the complementary benefits of agility and rally, read the interview with Jodi in this Training Tuesday article.)

Rally Learning Opportunities The best way to learn about rally is to take classes in your area, according to Ann. “Rally classes build from basic manners classes, focusing on fundamental skills such as heel, sit, down, and short stays. After learning each of the exercise signs, you’ll progress to practicing several exercise signs in a row, to performing a short course of 10-15 exercises. Within six to 12 months of taking WCRL classes, or less time for dogs already trained in basic obedience, teams should be ready to trial.”

Another benefit to rally is that work done in a class can easily be replicated at home for both practice and independent study